The Myths We Live By: A Contrarian's Guide to Democracy, Free Speech and Other Liberal Fictions

by Peter Cave

Overview

In this witty and mischievous book, philosopher Peter Cave dissects the most controversial disputes today and uses philosophical argument to reveal that many issues are less straightforward than we'd like to believe. Leaving no sacred cow standing, Cave uses ingenious stories and examples to challenge our most strongly held assumptions. Is democracy inherently a good thing? What is the basis of so-called human rights? Is discrimination always bad? Are we morally obliged to accept refugees?
In an age of identity politics and so-called 'fake news', this book is an essential resource for reinvigorating genuine public debate - and an entertaining challenge to accepted wisdom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786495211
Publisher:	Atlantic Books
Publication date:	11/06/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	898 KB

About the Author

Peter Cave lectures in philosophy for New York University (London) and the Open University. He is the author of numerous articles - some academic and serious, others humorous - and several philosophy books, including the bestseller Can a Robot Be Human? He has scripted and presented philosophy programmes for BBC Radio 4 and often appears in the media, taking part in public debates, providing some philosophical approaches often on matters of ethics, religion and politics.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Paperback Edition ix

Prologue: On hiding what we know 1

1 What's so good about democracy? 7

2 How democracy lies 24

3 Freedom and discrimination: burqas, bikinis and Anonymous 49

4 Should we want what we want? 70

5 Lives and luck: can Miss Fortuna be tamed? 87

6 The Land of Justice 103

7 Plucking the goose: what's so bad about taxation? 115

8 'This land is our land' 138

9 Community identity: nationalism and cosmopolitanism 157

10 What's so good about equal representation? 175

11 Human duties-oops-human rights 194

12 Free speech: the Tower of Babel; the Serpent of Silence 220

13 Regrets, apologies and past abuses 244

14 'Because I'm a woman': trans identities 261

15 Happy Land 284

Epilogue: In denial 312

Notes and References 321

Acknowledgements 336

Index 338

Editorial Reviews

• Lively... Cave forces his readers to interrogate cherished beliefs and see how many of the principles enshrined in public life are not only inconsistent but incoherent, even paradoxical. - The Herald

• An elegant and erudite expose of the hypocrisies and evasions that infect the social and political thinking of our times. - John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Reading University

• Britain's wittiest philosopher - Raymond Tallis, bestselling author of The Kingdom of Infinite Space

• Highly entertaining, informative and challenging... If you want to check whether your beliefs about democracy, human rights and free speech aren't just prejudices - mere myths you happen to have signed up to - this is a great place to start. - Stephen Law, author of The Complete Philosophy Files

• With characteristic wit, philosopher Peter Cave takes readers on a journey of discovery through a maze of perplexities. This is a profound book. - Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Professor Emeritus, University of Wales

• Engaging and mentally stimulating - New Scientist on Do Llamas Fall in Love?

From the Publisher